named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
Educating for Sustainability
Develops educational resources that integrate ecological awareness, social justice, and service learning within a phenomenological science framework.
Goethean Science Approach
A research and educational framework that emphasizes "delicate empiricism," close observation of natural phenomena, and the transformation of human perception to understand life in dynamic, contextual terms.
In Dialogue With Nature Podcast
A public podcast series featuring conversations with staff and guests on phenomenological practice, nature observation, and qualitative science.
Science & Math Education Initiative
Produces curricula, articles, and resources for educators that promote experiential, phenomenon-based learning in science and mathematics, especially for middle and high school levels.
Whole Organism Biology
Studies plants and animals as integrated, dynamic beings within their ecological contexts, emphasizing interrelationships between structure, function, and environment.
activities · 5 groups
What they do
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Hands-On STEM Education Programs 1 activity
- Develops and distributes educational tools for educators and studentsCreates hands-on teaching kits on human evolution and projective geometry workbooks for high school and college use, along with an environmental science curriculum for middle school integrating phenomenological science and service learning. Also provides online guides and resources for holistic sustainability education.
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Podcast and Radio Production 1 activity
- Operates an online bookstore and podcast seriesRuns an online bookstore offering publications by faculty and authors in Goethean science, and produces a podcast series exploring phenomenological practice and experiences in nature through conversations with staff and guests.
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Academic Research Dissemination 1 activity
- Publishes research and educational materialsProduces and distributes the biannual publication _In Context_, published the online journal _NetFuture_ (189 issues from 1998 onward), books, monographs, booklets, and workbooks on holistic science, genetics, evolution, and mathematics. Makes key works freely available online, including comprehensive books on genetics and organismal development.
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Nature Preserve Management and Public Access 1 activity
- Stewards a nature preserve and conducts ecological site managementManages a 29-acre nature preserve adjacent to its facility, including ecological restoration efforts such as rebuilding a wetland boardwalk, contributing to local habitat conservation and experiential learning opportunities.
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Uncategorized 3 activities
- Co-facilitates collaborative initiatives to advance holistic scienceCo-founded the Evolving Science Association with The Myrin Institute in 2016 and engages in collaborative programs to strengthen holistic knowing and expand its cultural reach, including conferences and colloquia in the U.S. and abroad.
- Conducts holistic biological and scientific researchEngages in long-term research projects on topics including mammal morphology, bird coloration, amphibian development, genetic engineering, and organismal agency, using Goethean and phenomenological methodologies. Research spans from 2008 to 2019, including synthesis of unintended effects of genetic manipulation and studies of nine animal species to illustrate holistic interconnections.
- Offers educational courses and workshopsProvides a 15-month low-residency Foundation Course in Goethean science with summer intensives and mentoring, field ecology courses in Costa Rica, coastal Mexico, and Kenya, and workshops internationally including in Brazil and New Zealand. Courses attract participants from education, farming, art, science, and environmental activism.
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financials · form 990 · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$761K
Contributions & grants$475K62%
Program service revenue$239K31%
Investment income$43K6%
Other revenue$4K
expenses
Total expenses$690K
Program expenses85%
Admin / overhead12%
Fundraising3%
Salaries & benefits$532K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$2.00M
Cash$952K
Investments$0
Liabilities$109K
Net assets$1.89M
Liquid reserves16.6 mo
6 years on record · 2020–2025 · YoY revenue -9.3%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2025
Who runs it
paid leadership · 4
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CRAIG HOLDREGE | PRESIDENT/EX | 40 | $89K |
| MARISHA PLOTNIK | SECRETARY | — | $74K |
| HENRIKE HOLDREGE | SENIOR RESEA | — | $22K |
| STEFAN AMBROSE | BOARD MEMBER | — | $6K |
board members · 4
- ALLISON HOPPE — BOARD MEMBER
- BETH COMSTOCK — BOARD MEMBER
- JEFF SEXTON — TREASURER
- MEGAN DURNEY — BOARD MEMBER
relationships · 16
Who they work with
- Bruno Follador Partner — Directed the Living Soils Project from 2015 to 2018, conducting research on soil fertility, composting, and agriculture.
- Detroit Waldorf School Partner — Collaborated on a curriculum-development project for middle school environmental science.
- Escola Schumacher Partner — Hosted a workshop by Craig Holdrege on rethinking the Earth as a living whole and published the talk on their YouTube channel.
- George Russell Partner — Member of the Evolving Science Association and emeritus professor of biology, collaborating with The Nature Institute on holistic science initiatives.
- Hawthorne Valley Partner — Neighboring organization with shared interests in biodynamic farming and ecology education.
- Henrike Holdrege Partner — Teacher and practitioner of Goethean science affiliated with The Nature Institute's educational programs.
- Janus Head Partner — Collaborated on a special issue of the journal focusing on Goethe's scientific approach.
- Land Institute Partner — Collaborates intellectually through shared perspectives on agriculture and genetics, as reflected in endorsements and aligned critiques of biotechnology.
- Lindisfarne Books Partner — Published Craig Holdrege's book "Seeing the Animal Whole — And Why It Matters" in 2021.
- Mark Gardner Partner — Affiliate researcher at The Nature Institute and member of the Evolving Science Association.
- Ronald H. Brady Partner — Early colleague whose research in epistemology and Goethean science was collected and published posthumously by the organization.
- Ronald H. Brady Partner — Staff member whose writings are archived and featured by The Nature Institute.
- Ronald H. Brady Archive Network — Hosts and preserves the philosophical writings of Ronald Brady on evolution and taxonomy.
- Stephen L. Talbott Partner — Emeritus researcher at The Nature Institute and representative in the Evolving Science Association.
- Stephen Talbott Partner — Staff member and primary author of NetFuture and other writings published by The Nature Institute.
- The Myrin Institute Partner — Co-founded the Evolving Science Association to promote holistic scientific practice.
strategies · 4
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Apprenticeship-with-Nature Pedagogy 181 orgsmethodology: apprenticeship-with-natureBy positioning students as apprentices learning directly from nature, guided by educators who facilitate rather than instruct, we produce transformative environmental education, because experiential encounter fosters wonder, responsibility, and intrinsic motivation to care for the natural world.shared approach: Experiential Engagement for Stewardship →
- Epigenetic and Organic Thinking Framework 13 orgsmethodology: epigenetic_contextualismBy emphasizing that genetic activity is shaped by the full biological and environmental context — an epigenetic worldview — we produce a more coherent biology, because organisms function as dynamic, integrated systems rather than as collections of genes, countering mechanistic reductionism in science and technology.shared approach: Interconnectedness-Based Stewardship →
- Goethean Science as Transformative Methodology 13 orgsmethodology: goethean_scienceBy applying Goethean Science — a phenomenological, immersive approach to observing nature — we produce deeper scientific understanding and transformed ways of knowing, because direct, reflective engagement with living phenomena cultivates qualitative insight and shifts the observer's consciousness.shared approach: Interconnectedness-Based Stewardship →
- Holistic and Contextual Understanding of Nature 13 orgsmethodology: holistic_and_contextual_scienceBy studying organisms and natural systems as integrated wholes within their ecological and developmental contexts, we produce a more accurate and ethically grounded science, because reductionist models fail to capture the dynamic interdependence of life and lead to technological overreach.shared approach: Interconnectedness-Based Stewardship →